Ecuador president: I've not yet decided on asylum for Wikileaks' Julian Assange

Martin Alipaz / EPA file

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, left, and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa, right.

Updated at 6:55 p.m ET: Ecuador's president Rafael Correa on Twitter Tuesday denied reports in the British media that he has decided to offer Wikileaks founder Julian Assange asylum.

"Rumors about asylum for Assange are false," Correa tweeted in Spanish hours after the Guardian newspaper reported the president had already made up his mind. He said in the tweet he was awaiting a report from the Foreign Ministry.

Earlier this week, Correa had said he hoped to announce a decision on Wednesday.


An offer may amount to little more than a symbolic gesture since Assange, holed up in Ecuador’s London embassy since June 19, has no guarantee that he could escape United Kingdom arrest and fly to the capital, Quito.

Assange, 41, has been trying to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on sex-crime allegations.

The former computer hacker, who enraged Washington in 2010 when his WikiLeaks website published thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, says he fears he could be sent to the United States, where he believes his life would be at risk.

Assange is in breach of his British bail conditions and the British police have said he is liable to arrest if he steps out of the embassy, which is located in London's ritzy Knightsbridge area, miles away from any airport, Reuters reported.

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It appears unlikely that the British government would give Assange safe passage to an airport as that would mean going against the Swedish arrest warrant and a ruling by Britain's own Supreme Court that the warrant was valid, Reuters reported.

Earlier Tuesday, an official in Quito, who is familiar with the government discussions, told the Guardian, "Ecuador will grant asylum to Julian Assange."

A WikiLeaks spokesperson, Kristinn Hrafnsson, could not confirm the asylum offer, Reuters reported.

"I cannot confirm. I just spoke to him (Assange) and he said he had not been notified either," Hrafnsson said.

Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said that Assange's grounds to request political asylum are that he thinks he is being politically prosecuted and that he Sweden will extradite him to the United States.

Patino, who has led Ecuador's analysis of the case, told Reuters the Andean country was also looking at how the 41-year-old Australian might travel to Ecuador if he is granted asylum.

"Beyond the international treaties, the right to asylum etc, and the autonomy or sovereignty the national government has to take a decision of this nature, we have to look at what will happen next," he said before an event in the highland city of Ambato.

"It's not only about whether to grant the asylum, because for Mr. Assange to leave England he should have a safe pass from the British (government). Will that be possible? That's an issue we have to take into account."

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Correa, a self-declared enemy of "corrupt" media and U.S. "imperialism", said he sympathizes with Assange but also feels respect for the British legalsystem and for international law.

Assangehasnot been charged with any offense in Sweden or in the United States. Swedish prosecutors want to question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two WikiLeaks supporters in 2010. Assangesays he had consensual sex with the women.

This article includes reporting by Reuters.

Related stories:

WikiLeaks' Assange defiant over UK police request

NBC News partner ITV News's coverage of Assange: 'Not going near a police station soon'

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Wherever this piece of sheet goes he could run but cannot hide. The US should send in after him Jack Bauer, Mitch Rafph, Scot Harworth. If not them the CIA, navy seals, the delta force or even the mafia to take him out so he could sleep with the fish and Bin Laden. F him.

    Reply#52 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:34 PM EDT

    You liberals, or whatever you call yourselves, need to learn the value of law, justice, and the balance of powers.

    Just because Clinton and Obama declared this fellow your enemy, doesn't mean he's your enemy.

    He's their enemy.

      #52.1 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:54 PM EDT
      Reply

      Julian Assange is one strange and probably dangerous individual. He "exposes" secrets of the world's free and Democratic nations but can't be bothered to say anything negative about totalitarian ones. He seems to think he's above the law and that non consensual sex is simply his due. He's paranoid and likely schizophrenic as well.

        Reply#53 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:48 PM EDT

        Do you have ANYTHING to base this on except Hillary and Obama's word?

        Are you Obama's puppet?

        • 2 votes
        #53.1 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:56 PM EDT
        Reply

        I had the privilege of living in Ecuador with a wonderful family and thoroughly enjoyed the country and the people. I hope Señor Correa does the right thing and lets this self-serving traitor of ethics rot in hell. If not that, then let him look over his shoulder for the rest of his life. After spending many years in Latin-America I know that no country leader would put up with the kind of betrayal this man has demonstrated. Do the right thing and let this man live in fear for eternity. How dare he make the decision of what the world should and shouldn't know about another country.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#54 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:56 PM EDT

        @Mark How dare we allow our own government individuals make the decision of what we should be allowed to know, that is being done in our name. We have been plaqued by secrets that have been uncovered, Watergate, Iran-Contra etc.,on and on how many are there we don't know about? If we are doing nothing wrong then why hide it, If you say something about others, do it to their face instead of behind their backs, oh right diplomacy. National security is one thing, but another to hide something we would be ashamed to admit we did.

          #54.1 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:08 PM EDT
          Reply

          this man is a hero showed us how bad the americain goverment is try to help the un start the new world oder he needs to keep doing what he is doing i sulte him

          • 1 vote
          Reply#55 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:20 PM EDT

          oops

            #55.1 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:59 PM EDT

            You guys are forgetting that the guy is not on trial for "leaking", he is on trial for sexual harassment.

            Obviously, US court is not going to be objective, that's why he is running, but he was not an objective reporter either.

            He was deliberately trying to hurt US government, by playing the system against them. So now, they are trying to hurt him, by playing the system against him. He was playing within the rules, so are they.

            I am not saying that the government is in the right, but he chose to take them on in this game and lost.

            He only has himself to blame for this situation.

              #55.2 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:16 AM EDT
              Reply

              i hope he gets the asylum, all he did was reveal dirty little secrets. What do the tabloids do every day. I think it opens up the door that maybe just maybe govts crooks and scheemers aren't so safe as they think they are. I'm not into giving out national security stuff that could harm lives like secrets on war manuvers, but the bank accounts and other business crap, no problem hope more do it, time to end govt run "organized crime" for any country. One way is to simply nationalize all the resources. I wonder what Exxon Mobil would say?

              • 2 votes
              Reply#56 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:22 PM EDT

              I'm embarrassed for the Intelligent agencies of the U.S., G.B., Sweden & Israel (I throw them in there because they are very proficient at their job, and will work for hire) No ones capped his a$$ yet ? He's been out of the news for awhile now so I figured the job was done. Shame on you.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#57 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 10:30 PM EDT
              Dancy Whitevia FacebookDeleted
              Joden Leevia FacebookDeleted

              Ecuador is an awesome country not afraid to give D.C. the finger. Can't wait to see this evolve.

              As for Assange, most of his stuff contains few secrets--except what aholes and lairs most ambassadors and their staff are. But if you have dealt with them, you already knew that. Not much of a secret then. (If you haven't read his releases in depth, don't bother to cite in-accurate media reports of it.)

              There can't be state secrets in a truly free country... If there are, freedom is an illusion. Welcome to the USA.

              • 1 vote
              Reply#60 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:28 PM EDT

              He is a piece of crap! He is a sexual predator! He should stand trial for what the coward has done. As far as the US military/government leaks, is the SEAL can get Bin Laden they can get this b@st@rd

              • 1 vote
              Reply#61 - Tue Aug 14, 2012 11:46 PM EDT

              And your proof of his guilt is where? It sure seems that you have the proof of his guilt, so, please share! Or are you from a country that doesn't believe in "innocent until proven guilty"? Or a jingo? Look it up...

                #61.1 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:14 AM EDT

                When one believes he can prove his innocence, he stands trial.

                Running, usually qualifies as a proof of guilt.

                Obviously, US court is not going to be objective, that's why he is running, but he was not an objective reporter either.

                He was deliberately trying to hurt US government, by playing the system against them. So now, they are trying to hurt him, by playing the system against him. He was playing within the rules, so are they.

                I am not saying that the government is in the right, nor am I saying that he is guilty of sexual harassment, but he chose to take on the government in this game and lost.

                He only has himself to blame for his situation.

                  #61.2 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 12:19 AM EDT

                  Dude.. try to keep up.

                  He has, or had, a list of prominent Americans with secret Swiss bank accounts.

                  He cannot mount an deffense because no nation anywhere has charged him with anything. You got that? No charges anywhere against him.

                  The Constitution of the US guarantees that you'll be charged with something,(if they hold you) just so you can mount a defense.

                  Julian Assange has no defense. There are no charges.

                  What is he supposed to be innocent or guilty of? Questioning? That's what he's being held for. Julian Assange is being held for questioning.

                  The founding fathers, danged conservatives that they were, made sure that was illegal in their country.

                  They insisted that if you held somebody, there had to be charges, so that they could mount a defense.

                  These days, this aint their country.... This mob doesn't even know he's an Australian being held in Britain for questioning in Sweden for having a list of Swiss bank accounts.

                    #61.3 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:39 AM EDT
                    Reply

                    So this weasel, rapist, anti-American can live out the rest of his days in Ecuador. So be it.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#62 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:24 AM EDT

                    Assange has done nothing wrong. He merely publicly posted information that someone else had illegally leaked out. Its too late now anyways, even if Assange is indicted, extradited to the U.S., and spends life in prison or gets the death penalty, it isn't going to stop the leak of information. Assange has said this many times, and he is absolutely right.

                    • 1 vote
                    Reply#63 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:39 AM EDT

                    I see zero reason to grant him asylum based on political persecution. It's one thing to have an opinion and speak out against your government and then be thrown in jail for that. Sure, that would be political persecution. But he obtained diplomatic communications via ill gotten gains. He chose his career path and should be held liable for his actions. He compromised other people's lives and careers. He paid money to get others to steal communications for him. He bragged about his thefts. He is not a political asylum worthy man. He is scum and he needs to face the music.

                    • 2 votes
                    Reply#64 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:50 AM EDT

                    I often wondered what a Scumbag looked like; now I have seen a photo of two. Looks like a job for the SAS. Politically correct is not in their vocabulary. Or perhaps the Seals or Massad, could fit the bill. Perhaps Mr Jeff King would like to be his stand in. Touching how cretins flock together isn't it. National Pride, allegiance to country does not count. One small word could destroy an operatives life but you as an amateur just do not give a s*^t. any more than Assange does. People die and he gets rich.

                    ,

                      Reply#65 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:47 PM EDT

                      HA you know nothing but what you have been told!!!! Hey why not do it yourself if you feel so strongly about it.

                      Ah thats right you don't know anything Just a MOB SLOB!!

                        #65.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:13 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        Isn't it amazing that the spineless British government is willing to violate an embassy, against all international norms, over a baseless and silly trumped-up charge that Mr. Asssange failed to use a rubber? Normally, they wouldn't enter an embassy even over a truly major crime, such as murder. This would completely destroy all global diplomacy. Is Assange That important to the Powers that Be in the United States?

                        This is all soooo transparent. As for those rainbow people who think Sweden is so fine it wouldn't render Assange to the US for life imprisonment or death for the crime of - gasp - Telling the Truth, they are living in fantasy land.

                        Both Britain and Sweden are just lickspittle little countries that bend over for the mighty United States, the real mover behind global secrecy. The US doesn't want their massive crimes exposed and will make an example of Assange with a kangaroo trial worthy of the former Soviet Union. The minute Assange gets to Sweden that gutless government will extradite him to their true ruler, the US.

                        The US is directly responsible for the deposing of democratic governments all over the planet, since their corporations could get more profit from dictators. In Iran that backfired, as it often does when we shoot ourselves in the foot, as we also did when we created Al Quada. In fact, hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans - entire villages - have been slaughtered by dictators we supported so our companies could get cheap land and oil. It's been going on for a long time. General Smedley Butler, an unsung hero who stopped a banker's coup against our own democracy decades ago, said of our adventures in Latin America that he didn't fight for democracy - he fought for the United Fruit Company.

                        There is a concerted effort to shut up all whistleblowers and keep us all in the dark to what really goes on. If the US wins this one, say goodbye to any truth or freedom.

                        When we live in a world where the truth is Never known, we will be in the coziest of total dictatorships. But since we will only be fed lies, we won't know that. Welcome to 1984.

                        It would be nice if Ecuador didn't lick the booted heel of the US, as Britain and Sweden are, but as usual, there is probably a lot of Money at stake. The oil giant Chevron is pushing the US to punish Ecuador if they do grant asylum. Nice to remember that the US is run by the oil companies and the banks, not by the people.

                          Reply#66 - Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:04 PM EDT

                          They want to "question him about allegations of rape and sexual assault" that is all this is about that is a bunch of crap.

                          There were no charges before he dropped the Dime on people, nada nothing.

                          Now the countries he leaked the information on want to make an example of him.

                          The mob just goes with the flow, he is lucky it is not the middle ages he would be burnt at the stake.

                          The one thing nice about a stupid mob mentality they usually get what they deserve in the end.

                          If the US and the EU would do the right thing and and stop sending jobs and borrowing money from China.

                          Then China would not have the money to build the Military they currently are!

                          China will attack the West in the next few years and destroy most of the Mob that does not think or even act on anything other then what they are told to think or do.

                          HI YA lemmings how is it going!! Here is your cliff.

                            Reply#67 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:09 PM EDT
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